Holy Water Fonts, and the memorial plaques above
There are two marble holy water founts in the basilica in the form of a scallop shell. They are the gift of parishioner, John Botto, who sent them from Italy in 1860. In Bishop William H. Elder’s account book, he states: “setting of Holy Water vases--bill of Polkinghorne and Rawes $5.00, May 1860.”
The marble plaques are dated 1859 and state in Latin: “Dedicated to the Lord, the Best and Greatest, and to the Sorrowful Mother of God, Patroness of the Cathedral Church of Natchez, while William Henry Elder was bishop. James Grillo with his own funds.”
(During the year of 1859, Bishop Elder completed the interior of his cathedral which had been “like a barn” from Bishop Chanche’s time. The estimated costs of the construction is estimated at $21,000 of which James Grillo possibly contributed five to six thousand dollars.)
There are two marble holy water founts in the basilica in the form of a scallop shell. They are the gift of parishioner, John Botto, who sent them from Italy in 1860. In Bishop William H. Elder’s account book, he states: “setting of Holy Water vases--bill of Polkinghorne and Rawes $5.00, May 1860.”
The marble plaques are dated 1859 and state in Latin: “Dedicated to the Lord, the Best and Greatest, and to the Sorrowful Mother of God, Patroness of the Cathedral Church of Natchez, while William Henry Elder was bishop. James Grillo with his own funds.”
(During the year of 1859, Bishop Elder completed the interior of his cathedral which had been “like a barn” from Bishop Chanche’s time. The estimated costs of the construction is estimated at $21,000 of which James Grillo possibly contributed five to six thousand dollars.)
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The marble plaques are dated 1859 and state in Latin: “Dedicated to the Lord, the Best and Greatest, and to the Sorrowful Mother of God, Patroness of the Cathedral Church of Natchez, while William Henry Elder was bishop. James Grillo with his own funds.”